Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-31

The twelvemonth we all agree in number.
ing 1887 was in some respects singular pc
ried But upon the whole, it averages well
with the years that went before it. In
chronologically considering 2 given year one
almost insensibly turns first TO its NEGRO. ,gy,
for one may measure the importance # a
year very accurately by taking note OF the
important figures who have passed from the
! worlds stage during its sway. And it was
indeed goodly company that passed from
the visible to the invisible during the
year 1887. Poets and statesmen, and
warriors and seamen, singers and actors,
and financiers and eminent people of all de-
grees. But the world goes on very well with
out them, as it will continue to go on .ong
after those who come after them have been
succeeded, in turn, by others
Humanity made good bit of material
progress during 1887 To be sure, no won
derful new invention came into general util-
ity, and no one of the few great scientific
prizes that mother nature sometimes lives
TO her persevering children was found
between its extreme days, bat lere
was steady improvement of such me, ham
ical contrivances as man had already made
himself master of; many miles of new rail-
road were constructed, many new industries
were established and many old ones were ex-
tended. And while not all who contribute
to the nations wealth, by the labor of the
hand and brain have profited by their work
as they should, there was steady i'm
provement of the condition of the
working classes during the year. The
unemployed and the destitute are to be ,und
mostly in the great cities of the earth, and il
is there that most of the riots of the year
took place. London suffered more than
! usual. Among the most important strikes Of
the year was the 'longshoremes strike, left
yer from 1886 and concluded in Febr uary
printers strike in New York, St Louis
Myhieago; the cigarmakers' s,rike and
Gag coal strike ordered in the mid lie OF
siss 3
'essz nP21kfging of the Chicago anarchists
A coidpicse list of the dark deeds com
united in ls'f would include everything il
the way Of cyIme that the mind of debaseG
man can s6E.ceive or carry into execution
but only such crimes as from their extraordi
mary nature demand recognition in the recort
of q years doings are here set down.
The casualties OF 1857 include fire ant
storm and food, and that most awful mani
Hesitation Of natures power, the earthquake
besides those casualties that are solely due t.
the carelessness of man himself The mos
appalling disasters of the year were tn,
earthquakes of the Italian Riviera and tn,
floods caused in China by the Yellow rivel
bursting its bounds.
Eighteen hundred and eightv-seven wit
messed no great wars, and the NJ that the
republic of France passed SAFE 1rough
crisis that was feared wouli pr, tate tur
MOL and bloodshed should be natter fol
the encouragement of the hopef student d
humanity Two powerful moIs. chs cele
brated important dates in Their lives witt
great success-Victoria, queen of England
completed the ftieth year of Ter reign anS
the Emperor William of &c. nj ny passed hi
both birthday. q
The year closed with the spresen
eastern question menacing the peace o
Europe with rather deeper muttering
than usual, and it is quite With
the bounds of possibility that the frs
few months of 1885 may bring storms of she
and shell to busy towns and quiet valley
that have not seen worse storms than raj
and wind and snow for years. In Americ
the years last days looked upon the bus
preparations of politicians and voters for tn
coming presidential campaign, and 1883 wi
be a much livelier political twelvemont
than its predecessor.
But the years record will speak for itsel